As of right now there is only one reigning Canadian playoff team. Exactly 0 have improved enough to challenge that.Canadian management is never punished where it hurts: the wallet. This makes winning a ‘nice to have’ for leadership groups. Canadian hockey teams have never been so poor overall. A real shame. That said, I’m following every tidbit of info about our team and cant wait for the season. Sucker for punishment I guess.

I had to props your comment because sadly you speak the truth. But let the rest of us fans enjoy opening day, the one day where the Oilers (and Flames, and Jets, and Leafs, and Canucks) are tied for first place and are playoff-bound.

With technological advancements learning has been replaced. The information has been downloaded into thier database’s along with a multitude of cliche talking points for the season and plugs for a 5 day long trade deadline day special event. TSN Reboot is complete..

What exactly are you predicting from the Flames? I don’t know of any fan that hope their team wets the bed every year although the Flames sure wet their’s (saddledome) last year. Head back to Flames nation ….

First of all, he never said anything about how the flames were going to do, so that’s irellevent. Secondly most flames fans are excited for the future but there is a small chance they are going to make the playoffs. Thirdly, this is obviously a all nation article, not just a oilers nation article, that’s apparently something you edmontonians can’t comprehend.

As much as I hate the flames I do not wish what we are going through on anyone even them. I really want Calgary at #2 overall and Edmonton winning the presidents trophy. I want to meet them in the western final and know that in many ways that is the Stanley Cup final. I want teams to fear coming to Alberta because they know they will go home luck to get 1point.

I am in the same boat as many other Oiler fans. I am hoping/even predicting (lol) that the Oil gets into the 8th spot this year.

But realistically….the team’s chances to getting into 8th this year will depend on the following… awesome and consistent types – very good to excellent coaching for a change, very good to great goaltending from both Scrivens and Fasth all year, a much better improved and tougher defence, more offence and two way play from the forwards, and…much better PP and PK duties.

I want the team in the playoffs this year…and every year…but if I can see them getting actually very close this year with much improvement and consistency… and the teams falls just into 9th in the WC (and say 17th to 21 over-all in the standings), then I will be okay with that and wont be too complaintive.

I am in the same boat as many other Oiler fans. I am hoping/even predicting (lol) that the Oil gets into the 8th spot this year.

But realistically….the team’s chances to getting into 8th this year will depend on the following… awesome and consistent types – very good to excellent coaching for a change, very good to great goaltending from both Scrivens and Fasth all year, a much better improved and tougher defence, more offence and two way play from the forwards, and…much better PP and PK duties.

I want the team in the playoffs this year…and every year…but if I can see them getting actually very close this year with much improvement and consistency… and the teams falls just into 9th in the WC (and say 17th to 21 over-all in the standings), then I will be okay with that and wont be too complaintive.

Pierre McGuire is a special entity unto himself. He’s cryogenically frozen in Hanger 18; An exclusive honor held only for the most freakishly entertaining Aliens. After PK Subban kissed him many neurons and circuits were fried. Recovery time increased exponentially but he will be fine.

On a side note… Along with his NBC deal I also heard Pierre McGuire will have a recurring role in future Men in Black sequels.

…my gawd whata novel idea Wanye or whomever it was to get Pengellyink to do his thing here …let a cartoonist do one drawing and let it represent the thousand words it’s supposed to say…NOVEL! I tell you!

I’m just hoping Rogers Sportsnet doesn’t screw around too much with the broadcasts. We hear a lot of promises from their spokespeople that everything will be fantastic but that’s to be expected from a public relations point of view. I’m willing to give them a few weeks to iron out any initial wrinkles. But once we’re into late October we’ll be able to assess if the megadeal was a disaster or not.

they should have a socal (kings, ducks, sharks, coyotes) version of the outstanding young stars tournament – except do it on Manhattan beach – outdoor rink with a 5k person adhoc set of stands around it. (they did pull off a game in Dodger Stadium – but summer might be too hot).

As an Oiler fan living in LA, anything to keep selling Hockey works for me.

here’s another one:

what if the NHL moved to two 16 team leagues – one in europe/russia, and one in North America. and then 20 team division 2 leagues in each continent. then like premier league soccer – the top 5 teams and bottom 5 teams or so swap leagues. limited inter-league play (say one trip a year) except for the finals.

NHL would be the first league to be “global”. which might give the NHL more cred in the US.

probably require significant changes to the cap and UFA etc. rules, but there you go.

finally:

they should turn the winter classic games into BOWL games that teams have to qualify for based on their league play in the first half of the year.